The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-04-07
John Minton.

tioWly WITH gas, ana began 10 struggle
with the ropes which held it down,
swaying from side to side as if it were
eager to take flight.
Outside the space enclosed by a rope,
was gathered nearly the entire popula-
ton of several mountain counties. some
of the people having walked twenty
miles (and carried a baby only to
visit the circus and see the ''b'loon
gw'up." Inside the Enclosure were two
men, on whom the eyes of the assem-
bly, were fixed. One was a swarthy
little man. with black mustache, dressed
in tights, who walked around with a
great air of professional sang froid.
He was advertised on the show bills
as Professor -Zingari, the great Italian
Aeronaut;" Lut his real name was
Shanks, and he came from Mud town,
Indiana. The other man was not so
easy to make out at first. The suit of
homespua that clothed his tall, lank
form showed hat he was a resident of
the mountains; but this was surmount-
ed by a face full of eager w~istfulness,
which contrastcd strangely and de-
cidedly with the mouotonously apathet-
lc expression on the faces surrounding
him. From the conversation of the
crowd, one would soon gather that this
was John Minton, and that he intended
making the ascent with the Profess
or, "wh CHI intention was discussed with
great interest by the multitude.
"Eow high have you ever beenP"
asked Minton of the professor.
'Oh, l don't KNOW he responded,
mot more'n Il mile or So"
"Id like to be higher than anybody"
said Minton, with enthusiasm.
Il wouldn't" said the little man; "a
mile is high enough for NE. 1t gets
as cold IS the devil up there"
Minton did not seem to notice this re-
mark, but stood looking dreamily at
''thc sightless couriers of the air."
drifting lazily through The blue ether,
as if he would peer into the secrets.
Owing to the delay that invar ably
attends the filling of a balloon, it was
sClt SunoC DClOlC CfSly lLiAS was
ready for the assent.
Wen only 60 up a little WAYS and
then come down again." said the pro-
fessor, who spoke English with remark
able freedom for a foreigner.
At q word from his companion, Min
ton cast IL rapid, half-defiant glance
around upon the crowd. Yes, there she
was, with her eyes cast down and her
cheeks burning; she could see how lit
tie he cared for her-then he seized the
rope and climbed vigorously into the
wicker work car, while the aeronaut
seated himself below in the trapeze.
Let her gor' shouted the professor,
in a StentOrian voice.
Minton's eyes irresistibly sought out
one figure in the mass of humanity be-
low.
She stretched forth her arms towards
him, and tears sprang to her eyes.
But the next moment she seemed to
drop away from him suddenly, the
cheer of the spectators died away like
the sound of an organ when the air
fails, and the professor fell out of the
trapeze backwards and caught by his
feet in a way that made a shudder run
through the assemblage, row far be-
low. After ascending steadily for some
time, the ballon sprang suddenly up
ward with a joyous leap. and Minton
heard a wild, vanishing cry, like the
yell which the multitude gave when
they left the earth. Looking over the
side of the car, he perceived to his hor-
ror that his companion had disap-
.peared.
He looked ~downwards; all below was
wrapped in shadow, except that the
sunlight still gilded the summit of old
Bald Mountain, away off there to the
south. The earth had an indescribably
gloomy and forbidding aspect. A
strange thrill of exultation passed
through him; he felt a p%remonition of
''the joys of a disembodied spirit whose
race has just begun"
Leaning far out of the car. he waved
his hand toward the silent, sombre
earth. and cried out ~passionately:
s'Far' well to you, far well" He was
seized upon by an intense longing to
dwell forever in this region of pure
ether and eternal sunshine. Springing
up he hurled the bags of ballast out of
the car, and shouted aloud with insane
glee.
The mercury fell rapidly in the ba-
lrometer, the vault of heaven above him
became black. and sharp pain shot like
lightning to his heart. !
The air grew intensely cold, blood
streamed form his mouth and nose. he
pressed his hand over his heart and
sank painting on the floor of the car.
THANK God it is all over" said he, as
he lapsed into unconc BUSINESS For his
life had not been a happy n there be-
low ON this earth; it had been solitary
and compan %onless, and what a mean
inc is there in these words!
How could it be otherwise? Nature,
as if to make amends for wasting her
noblest beauties on Il stolidly Indifferent
people, had set down amongst them
This mar with q mind SO keenly sensa-
tive 10 her charms, and so perfectly
atuned 10 hers, that he reflected with
unconscious and perfect fidelity all
her ys.ying moods. as u still mountain